COLORADO: LAST SEASON: 43-30-9, 95 points. Fourth place in Central Division, 8th seed in Western Conference. LOST to Nashville Predators in first round.
COACH: Jared Bednar (third season with Avalanche, third NHL season).
ADDED: LW Matt Calvert, D Ian Cole, G Philipp Grubauer.
LOST: LW Blake Comeau, G Jonathan Bernier, RW Nail Yakupov, G Andrew Hammond.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Nathan MacKinnon. The 23-year-old center is coming off a season in which he had 39 goals and 58 assists. His 97 total points were the most by an Avalanche player since Hall of Famer-turned-general manager Joe Sakic recorded 100 in 2006-07. "His skill level is unbelievable," said Grubauer, who was acquired in a trade with Washington in June. "He can make a difference out there."
OUTLOOK: Not much was expected of the Avalanche this time a year ago. With good reason ' they were coming off a 48-point season. They won't be overlooked again after clinching a playoff spot during their final game of the season, before losing to the Predators in the first round. The line of captain Gabriel Landeskog, MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen was put together on Oct. 28 and combined for 225 points in the final 72 games. "We have to remember how much hard work we put into that and know we aren't going to catch anybody sleeping," Landeskog said. "Everybody knows we're a good team and here to stay."

CALGARY: LAST SEASON: 37-35-10, 84 points. Finished fifth in Pacific Division and missed playoffs.
COACH: Bill Peters (first season, fifth NHL season)
ADDED: F James Neal, D Noah Hanifin, F Elias Lindholm
LOST: D Dougie Hamilton, F Micheal Ferland, RW Troy Brouwer
PLAYER TO WATCH: LW Johnny Gaudreau. Calgary's top line of Gaudreau, center Sean Monahan and anyone on right wing can be one of the best in the NHL. The 5-foot-9 playmaker from South Jersey is primed for another big season after putting up 84 points in 80 games. It's no exaggeration to say he has become one of the best players in hockey.
OUTLOOK: The Flames should be much improved after firing COACH Glen Gulutzan, replacing him with Peters, trading Hamilton and Ferland to Carolina for Hanifin and Lindholm and signing Neal. Captain Mark Giordano can go back to playing with old defense partner T.J. Brodie on a deep blue line. Calgary's playoff hopes rest on veteran goaltender Mike Smith in net, or, if he falters, 24-year-old Jon Gillies.

PREVIEW

Avalanche looking to snuff Flames in Game 5

Being regular season conference champs hasn't meant much in the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring.

The Calgary Flames must win at home Friday in Game 5 of their first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche if they hope to avoid the same fate as the Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning -- an early exit.

It may not be as shocking as the Lightning being swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the Flames -- who finished second overall in the league and won 50 games -- are on the ropes, down 3-1 to Colorado.

"We've got to go home and play our best game in Game 5. That's what we have to do. We have to win one game and take it from there," Flames coach Bill Peters said after his team fell 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday.

That was the second time in the series that the Flames surrendered a goal in the final three minutes of regulation and then lost in overtime.

On Wednesday, Calgary forward Mikael Backlund was in the penalty box for a tripping infraction when Mikko Rantanen scored the game-tying goal, failed to score on a golden chance early in overtime and then was on the ice when Rantanen netted the game-winner.

"It's tough," Backlund said. "I took a bad penalty and then I had a chance to redeem myself, and instead, they score in front of me again. It's going to be a long night -- a tough night.

"We have nothing to lose now. I don't think a lot of people think we can do it, but we know we can. We've faced a lot of adversity this year and if there's any group that I believe in and know they can do it, it's this group right here."

The Avalanche haven't won a playoff series since 2008. They may have been the eighth seed in the Western Conference and had the lowest point total of any playoff squad, but they also were the league's hottest club down the stretch, posting an 8-0-2 record to earn a spot and have carried that momentum

"I think it's important that you go to the playoffs with a good push, and that's exactly what we did," Rantanen said. "We had rough times in the season, but the way we finished ... that's how we want to finish the season before playoffs. Get hot at the right time."

Here's one way to look at how well the Avs played in their two home games in this series. Calgary goalie Mike Smith combined to make 99 saves in those clashes, yet the Flames lost both.

Now, the Avalanche have three chances to punch a ticket to the second round.

"Up 3-1, but the next one is going to be tough," said Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer, who has sparkled in his net. "To end the team's season is always the hardest. You now they're going to come out in their own barn, and they're going to be ready for sure."